Tynes Bay and playground upgrades in the works

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24: More than $68 million will be spent by Public Works in the coming financial year.

Public Works Minister Michael Weeks said the figure includes a total of eight new garbage trucks, which will help cut the level of uncollected trash bags.

Mr Weeks said the $150,000 apiece vehicles are 35 per cent cheaper than previous vehicles and would be supplied with parts from their New Jersey vendor, rather than from the Japanese manufacturer, cutting time spent off the roads for maintenance.

Mr Weeks added that the programme for the year includes a new, larger steam turbine at the Tynes Bay waste-to-energy plant, which will be able to produce more electricity and an upgrading of the seawater cooling plant.

In addition, a new well at the salt-to-freshwater treatment plant at Tynes Bay is expected to help the plant produce one million gallons of water a day by the middle of the year.

Mr Weeks said that playgrounds at Clearwater Beach in St David’s, Mullet Bay in St George’s and Parsons Road in Pembroke will also be renovated.

Work will be carried out on south shore beaches, including new concession operations at Warwick Long Bay and John Smith’s Bay, as well as work at Elbow Beach to improve the area.

He added that the new Grand Atlantic affordable housing project will provide a total of 78 two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Mr Weeks said: “The development has received permission for a special financial vehicle from the lending institutions. We will soon release important information on favourable lending terms for the development.”